Unity president, says Gus Dur

Unity president, says Gus Dur

JAKARTA (JP): Embattled President Abdurrahman Wahid appealed
on Friday night for unity and an end to violence and divisive
behavior, pointing out that he had been elected president as a
glue to bind the nation together.

Speaking in a nationally-televised address on the state-owned
TVRI network, Abdurrahman pointed out that his ascendance to the
presidential seat was due to him being considered "acceptable" to
all sides.

"In other words, I was elected president, not because I am an
extraordinary man, but more because of the circumstances at that
time," Abdurrahman said in a statement read out by presidential
spokesman Wimar Witoelar.

The President was referring to the last-minute maneuver,
spearheaded by People's Consultative Assembly Chairman Amien Rais
in October 1999, to block Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri
from assuming the presidency.

Abdurrahman conceded that, based on the results of the general
election, Megawati, as chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), should have become president.

But circumstances at the time, which Abdurrahman suggested may
be similar to now, required him to step forward.

Abdurrahman repeatedly showered the Vice President with
praise: "I respect her most for her willingness to give me a
chance to lead this country. Instead of taking the stance of a
party leader, she demonstrated true statesmanship by putting the
country's unity before her own interests."

Abdurrahman then called on his political foes not to replace
him, saying that a leadership change was not a solution to the
country's multidimensional crisis.

"This country is in a very grave condition, so even if the
nation changes its president one hundred times a year, no one
will be able to restore the economy in a short period," he said.

"So, let's not hastily pass judgment that I am incapable of
running the country," he said, adding that, "steps to overcome
these diverse problems have been taken."

Abdurrahman pointed out that the "heap of problems" faced by
his administration were "the ruins of past government".

"After I became president, what lay in front of me was only
the rubble of the past ... skyrocketing foreign debts, economic
disorder, widening social gaps and flareups everywhere," the
President said.

The President's statement followed a last-ditch appeal by his
Cabinet to the House of Representatives earlier on Friday, in an
attempt to suspend moves to issue a second memorandum of censure
against Abdurrahman, due to fears that such a measure could spark
violence.

The plea, conveyed by Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Baharuddin Lopa to House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, was delivered
during legislators' preparations for Monday's session, which will
consider the second censure.

Supporters of Abdurrahman are due to convene in a mass prayer
on Sunday and have pledged to gather in front of the House on the
following day to pressure legislators not to issue the censure.

Akbar, however, insisted that the process would continue as
planned.

"If the President has made mistakes, according to the rules,
he can be censured," Akbar said.

A second censure could lead to a third censure proposing the
Assembly convene a special session to impeach the President.

Abdurrahman was first censured on Feb. 1 over two financial
scandals in which he has denied involvement. A House probe has
concluded that he "could be suspected to have played a role" in
the scandals.

The President has warned that he might not be able to control
his supporters if legislators go through with the censure.

Meanwhile, vice presidential secretary, Bambang Kesowo, quoted
Megawati as saying on Friday that she would not try to block the
House from issuing a second censure.

Megawati has been conspicuously absent over the past two days
due to a reported bout of the flu. Some figures, however, suggest
that she is distancing herself from the President.

In his address, Abdurrahman noted that Megawati had been asked
to appear with him for the televised speech, organized by the
Independence Pioneers, but was absent due to "a heavy cold".
(byg/rms)